Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-07-29
OLYMPIA. WASHINGTON TER.
OLYMPIA. FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 20. 1857
In TribulatiOn.

Portland and Seattle are on the
ragged edge, the former for want OF a
first-class hotel, and the latter for the
want Of a first-class terminus. These
are results speedily following the COM
pletion of the Cascade division of the
Northern Pacific railroad, and show
that the forebodings Of both cities
We're based upou true appreciation
of the changes that would ensue soon
as the great transcontinental artery of
trade was opened direct to tide-water
The gravity Of the situation is por-
trayed by the utterances of the leading
papers of both cities. The Oregonian,
by leader and paragraph, is engaged
in flashing popular sentiment up to
the point of subscribing a liberal sub
sidy for large hotel. Itdeclares that
Eastern tourists, who stay over long
enough in Portland to transfer from
one train to another, or only day or
two at best, stop a week at Tacoma
all on account of the hotel" Its ef-
forts, SO far, have not been productive
of any marked results, notwithstand-
ing the conditions stated are readily
admitted. The Intelligencer publishes
a double-leaded article declaring that
"Seattle must Lead" and proposes a
subscription to defray the expense of
transportation of all wheat shipped by
the Inland Empire, from Stuck juno
ton to Seattle. 1t affirms that upon
controlling the trade OF Eastern Wash
ington the continued commercial su-
premacy of Seattle depends" This
may be regarded as remarkable adj
mission, from the mouth-piece of a
community that has hitherto spoken
only in the most arrogant terms of
their rivals prospects. 1t candidly
admits that Internationally, if the
merchants of Tacoma are permitted
to handle this wheat exclusively, they
will have formed business connections
in Eastern Washington which it may
take years to overcome@ Tacoma,
alive to the situation, suggests that
if Seattle goes into the subsidy bust,
ness, she will raise fund to pay for
handling all grain shipped to that
point, free of charge. A checkmate is
therefore probable, let Seattle do what
she may.
The scramble is mainly interesting
to us, as disinterested spectators, from
the fact that we have been for many
years wrestling with problem of equal
magnitude, without eliciting much
sympathy from either of our present
neighbors in misfortune. The mud
flats have been a burden equal
to that borne by Atlas, and our
condition has only provoked jests
and jeers from our prosperous neigh
bors on either hand. We now have an
opportunity, had We the disposition to
do SO, to pay them off in their own
coin. The kindlier impulses of the
heart prompt us to quite different
course of action. We sympathize with
our companions in misfortune. Port
lands tribulation is not ours as long az
the hospitable doors of the famous
Carlton House are open to the public
nor have we cause to be unhappy from
any threatened usurpation of rights
based upon a no more valid title than
an entry of intent for speculative pur
poses as long as we have an assur
ance that the Gray's Harbor railroad
will soon place us two days nearer tc
San Francisco than any other point or
Puget Sound. Our mud-flats will dis
appear quite as soon as the real cause
of Portland and Seattle's agitation j.
removed.
If Seattle reaps the whirlwind she
cannot truthfully affirm that she wa.
not warned of the nature of the crol
she was sowing. Her prophesies have
all proved untrue. The Cascade divi
sion is built despite her protest ant
opposition, and she must now abid.
the legitimate consequences.